Does Cardiac Rehabilitation After Myocardial Infarction Favorably

In brief: This review article discusses the limitations of 14 randomized controlled trials of exercise rehabilitation for patients who had sustained a myocardial infarction. Seven of nine major trials involved 3,222 patients, whose conditions were followed for one to nine years; total mortality was reduced by 20% to 50% in these studies. Although pooling this information to obtain statistical significance is difficult, the results are compatible with a substantial therapeutic benefit. In addition to the positive effects on total mortality, exercise can improve mood state and increase physical working capacity. Thus, there is solid ground for prescribing exercise-centered cardiac rehabilitation after an uncomplicated myocardial infarction.